TomTomGo 730 - Alternatives with Traffic and BT?

chajun · Regular Visitor Joined: Sep 09, 2004 Posts: 165

I have a TT GO 730 purchased Feb 2009 which is OK. But the Traffic application leaves a lot to be desired. i.e not showing hold ups that have been on going for several hours and not finding an alternative route.

I went into Halfords today I explained all of this and that I might be wanting to purchase another brand with the same apps which includes Blue-tooth. What you need is a Garmin they said. I asked about the favourites that I have accumulated can they be installed on a Garmin device. No the said. Is this true? and could anybody recommend a Garmin or other brand ?

Thanks

dhn · Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 2:43 pm Post subject:

You can first convert your favourites to a custom poi set using Mike Alders information found here and then convert the poi file to a Garmin csv file using this link
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David

chajun · Regular Visitor Joined: Sep 09, 2004 Posts: 165

Thanks David for that part of the question answered.
Rgds

Andy_P · Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 6:41 pm Post subject:

So, if Halfords gave you THAT duff bit of advice, can you trust them about anything else???

Anyway, TomTom and Garmin are the market leaders, and are for a good reason.
Each have their champions on this site, but between them they are the best in the market.
Garmin have their own version of "Traffic", but I haven't heard any reports that it is significantly better than TomTom's effort (when it is working correctly). Both services depend on information from various third-party sources.

mikealder · Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:17 pm Post subject:

To be honest if Traffic information is your major need you should be looking at one of the Live devices from TomTom, even though it requires you to pay a subscription charge the information offered is far more reliable than that delivered by the FM radio system. This accuracy is also bolstered by the HD Traffic system receiving its data from the built in GPRS modem with its own SIM card, mobile phone reception is far more reliable than the FM network so you get data with the Live system in areas devoid of FM coverage.

As for Halfords and poor advice, I don't think you can blast them for not knowing how to translate favourites from a TomTom in to a format that will work as a POI file on a Garmin or any other device. Lets face it there are probably a few hundred members of this site that know how to do it, but its far from the "run of the mill" request - Mike

MoPlain · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 04, 2006 Posts: 53

Well I had heard reports that Halfords staff get better sweeteners from Garmin, and if you read the feedback on Amazon for many of the Garmin devices their traffic system is no better and reportedly worse.

I too use the TT traffic system and have to say it is pretty inaccurate. It can be good with with tailbacks in roadworks or longer term delays, but otherwise I find it is a notification of something ahead 'maybe'.

I've read up here and there recently as i was planning to move away from TomTom, and I think it was Navigon that seemed to get quite good reports, but obviously they are not as popular as TT. I think the aldo Medion systems are based on Navigon (?) so may be worth considering (bearing in mind they are easy to return to) but I'm not sure what they are like with map updates.

MoPlain · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 04, 2006 Posts: 53

I wish i could do the Live thing, but it seems TomTom changed something and aren't changing it back. I can't get my 720 to connect and utilise my Blackberry Bold 9000 on Vodafone live contract. If i use the earlier software before 8.015 it works perfectly. It's documented elsewhere as an issue, blooming annoying.

mikealder · Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 10:43 pm Post subject:

Only the x40/ x50/ XL Live devices offer Live services your 720 cannot do this (unless you live in Holland and own a HD Traffic receiver for the device) - all you could get via a phones GPRS connection is some of their "Plus" services which are nothing like Live services - Mike

MoPlain · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 04, 2006 Posts: 53

Ah right, could be the way to go in future...

Andy_P · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:22 am Post subject:

My answer above was assuming you had the HD Traffic service already, I mis-read your model number Embarassed

.

So, yes, I can understand your comments about 'Traffic' a bit better, now I realise you were talking about the old RDS-TMC version.
Try to get a look at the TomTom HD Traffic on the LIVE services, and I think you'll be more impressed..

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